Arsenal to open Walcott contract talks, Times says

Arsenal will open contract negotiations with Theo Walcott after the winger's three-goal performance against Croatia, the Times said.

The club may have to triple the 19-year-old's salary to 20,000 pounds ($35,000) a week to keep him from being a target of other teams, the Times said.

Walcott has two years remaining on his contract, the Times said. Talks were delayed earlier this year and it's now unlikely the club will risk losing any more time after Walcott led England to a 4-1 win in World Cup qualifying two days ago, the newspaper said.

Walcott hasn't asked for a new contract, even though he earns half the salary of his closest England teammate and a quarter of many on his Arsenal squad, the Times said.

More Time

Newcastle's search for a new manager could drag on into October, the Daily Telegraph said.

Interim coach Chris Houghton has been told he may be in charge for the next three weeks as the club looks to replace Kevin Keegan, the Telegraph said. Houghton will manage his first game tomorrow when Newcastle plays Hull.

Keegan resigned last week following disagreements with the club hierarchy on player-transfer policy and Newcastle has targeted Tottenham assistant Gus Poyet as his replacement, followed by Blackburn's Paul Ince, the Telegraph said. The search will not begin in full for another three days, the newspaper said.

Fans irate over Keegan's resignation are expected to protest against owner Mike Ashley and the club's board at tomorrow's game and extra police will be deployed at St. James' Park, the Telegraph said.

Wenger's Blast

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Manchester City's new owners aren't following the rules with their talk of bringing the world's biggest players to the club, the Sun said.

Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment agreed to buy Manchester City on Sept. 1, saying it aims to make the club the biggest in soccer. City purchased Robinho from Real Madrid for 32.5 million pounds the same day and Sulaiman Al- Fahim, the group's front man, has said the club may go after players such as Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres.

"Football is not a supermarket," the Sun quoted Wenger as saying. "There is money in the game and I take it in a positive way. But the football bodies have to make sure money is ruled properly and is used well for the ethic of the game."

Wenger said it's unacceptable for clubs to say they will pay out big money for players already under contract with other teams. He said he wouldn't sell Fabregas for "even for 135 million pounds."

Bruce's Heskey Fear

Wigan manager Steve Bruce fears he could lose Emile Heskey in the January transfer window, after the striker's recent strong play for England, according to newspapers including the Daily Mail.

Heskey started England's 4-1 win in Croatia after playing effectively as a substitute in a victory over Andorra on Sept. 6 to open World Cup qualifying.

"I would like him to stay and we will do what we can," Bruce told the newspaper. "He is happy in his surroundings, but who knows?

Heskey has 10 months left on his contract at Wigan, the Mirror said. He joined the club from Birmingham in July 2006 for 5.5 million pounds and has refused to discuss a new contract, the Sun said.